Ralph Lauren launches polo shirt made of recycled plastic bottles

Ralph Lauren launches polo shirt made of recycled plastic bottles

The shirt is part of a broader strategy of fresh environmental goals throughout the manufacturing process.

Ralph Lauren – Earth Polo (Ralph Lauren via AP)

Polo Ralph Lauren has launched a version of its famous polo shirt made entirely of recycled plastic bottles and dyed through a process that uses zero water.

David Lauren, the youngest son of the company’s founder and its chief innovation officer, told the Associated Press ahead of the announcement that the new shirt is part of a broader strategy of fresh environmental goals throughout the manufacturing process.

“Every day we’re learning about what’s happened with global warming and what’s happening all around the world, and our employees and our customers are really feeling that it’s time to step up and make a difference,” he said.

Smaller brands around the world are already using repurposed and recycled materials.

In announcing Earth Polo, Ralph Lauren committed to removing at least 170 million bottles from landfills and oceans by 2025.

The shirts are manufactured in Taiwan, where the bottles are collected. Each uses an average 12 bottles.

The shirts are produced in partnership with First Mile, an organisation that collects the bottles which are turned into yarn and, ultimately, fabric.

The new fibres will also be used for existing performancewear already made of polyfibres, which are popular for their ability to wick away moisture.

The Earth Polo went on sale on Thursday, ahead of Monday’s Earth Day. It comes in styles for men and women in green, white, navy and light blue. The shirts are no more expensive than other polos.

Ralph Lauren has taken on environmental initiatives over the years, but it is putting into place a more significant strategy aimed at changing its corporate culture and how it thinks about the clothes it produces.

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The effort includes a new supply chain and sustainability officer, Halide Alagoz, who said more details will be released in June.

“At the moment we’re refreshing our approach and framework around sustainability,” she said.

Among the company’s other goals: the use of 100% sustainably sourced cotton by 2025 and 100% recyclable or sustainably sourced packaging materials by the same year.